Decoy-minnow.



E. C. TOWNSEND.

DECOY MINNOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZG. 1913.

1 ,1 88,583, Patented June 27, 1916.

I x H A 3 a ll ' UNITED STATES PATENT onnrcn.

EDGAR c. TOWNSEND, or RUTILEDGE, iamnn sorn. I

' nncox-mmnow.

1,1 eases.

fication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to decoy minnows and one ofthe principal objects of the invention is to provide a simple and eilicient decoy which will move in a circular path when raised and lowered in the water and which will simulate alive minnow toattract fish in its vicinity so that the fish may be speared by a fisherman standing upon the ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy minnow which may be made in any desired shape and color to simulate any particular species of fish and which when connected to a'line and operated by a fisherman to raise'and lower the line, the minnow will take a circular course either to the right or left, said decoy minnow being designed to attract game fish when said decoy is properlymanipulated by the fisherman standing on the ice near the fishing hole.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a decoy minnow made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is, a central vertical longitudinal section of the' same; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designatesthe body portion of the minnow which may be made of wood or other suitable material and may be of the required shape to simulate a sun fish, a shiner, pike, small pickerel or any other species of fish, the body being colored or treated to give the desired appearance. The body of the fish is preferably provided with shining glass eyes 2. A slit or kerf 3 is formed transversely of the body portion of the fish and a suitable balancing weight of lead or other material 4 is connected to the body portion 1 by suitable fastenings 5. Oppositely positioned front and rear metal pectoral fins 6 and 6 are secured to the b0 y' 1 in alined spaced relation by means of the fastenings 5 which pass through the weight a; and into the body portion 1. These fins 6 Specification of Letters Patent.

ings tability to the minnow-and for preventing it tipping over from one side to the other. A pin 7 extends through the body of I the minnow and through the ,weight 4, said pm at its upper end having an eye 8 for the attachment of a swivel 9, to which is connected-a line 10. The superposed rcarwardly directed dorsal and anal fins 11 and 12, which are located to the rear of the rear pectoral fin 6, are each provided With a lug 13 extending into an aperture in the top and bottom of the minnow, said fins being connected to saidvbody portion by means of pins 14. The fins 11 and 12 are free from the body of the minnow at their rear portions 1 tentedjJuiic27, 191a. f Application filed ma 26,1913. Serial No. 'zeasss.

- and 6 are designed for the purpose of i and may be bent to one side or the other to give the fish acircular motion when the line 10 is raised and lowered as will be understood, and it will be obvious that by bonding the terminal portions 15 in one direction or the other, the minnow may be made to assume a circular course in either direction to the right or to the left.

Secured to the rear end of the minnow and mounted to rotate eccentrically on the pin 16 is a tail comprising a plurality of blades 17 and angularly and laterally extending attaching ears 18.

This decoy minnow is designed to be manipulated by means of a short handle to which the line 10 is connected. 1

My invention is designed to be used in fishing for game fish by cutting a hole in the ice and letting the decoy minnow down a certain distance under the Water and by moving the handle up and down the decoy minnow takes a circular course and the tail is rotated to simulate a moving minnow. When a game fish is attracted to the min now the decoy is suddenly pulled out of the fishing hole to give the fisherman a chance to spear the game fish.

From the foregomg, 1t will be obvious that a decoy minnow made in accordance wardly directed dorsal and anal fins extending from said body to the rear of said rear to the forward under portion of said body,

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and a pin extending vertically through said body ending in an eye to receive a strand whereby said body will be held in a hori- 315 zontal position, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR o. TOWNSEND.

Witnesses LUDWIG WESTRUD, J OIIN PRAZMA. 

